This morning reading God’s Word, I came to 8 words said by Jesus to a woman. Simon, a religious leader, had invited Jesus to have dinner with him and some other guests. A woman who led a sinful life came to see Jesus there. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume to pour on the Lord’s feet. As she got near Jesus she began to weep at His feet, wiping His feet with her tears. What made her weep? Do you think she wept because she KNEW she was a sinful woman in the presence of God? What did she believe about Jesus?
After Jesus heard Simon’s ‘thoughts’ about the woman, Jesus openly spoke to him in front of everyone using a parable to help Simon and the others in attendance that were just as self-righteous as Simon, understand their ‘own’ sinfulness.
“Two people owed money to a moneylender. One owed far more than the other. Neither of them could pay the lender back, so the lender forgave their debts. Now which of them loved the lender more?” The answer was obvious, and Jesus responded to Simon as to how he had NOT done anything for Jesus that was at least the ‘customary’ things to do: washing His feet off and greeting Him with a kiss. And He summed it all up with:
“Therefore, I tell you Simon, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love for Me has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus turned to the woman and said these 8 life-changing words: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Often, we Christians, as we like to think of ourselves, attack someone else (in our thoughts) for what we see them doing or saying that is clearly sinful. But we don’t know their heart like Jesus does. According to the Lord, we don’t even know the depth of evil and deception in our ‘own’ heart. (Jeremiah 17:9)
“I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:10
As Christians we often become outraged when we think someone is lying or doing something we would never do, at least not in public. We will even publicly spout off about what someone else says or does. Yes, we are to “hate evil as God hates evil,” but at the same time He calls us (all sinners saved by grace) to humility and prayer. In my opinion, the Church in America has been very weak in humility and prayer, and is why our nation is in the trouble it is.
False humility is self-deception, and self-centered prayer is not at all acceptable to God. In fact, the Holy Spirit does nothing with our prayers that are self-centered instead of Christ-centered rooted in grace and truth.
You can grow up in a Christian home, know the Bible, believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, be involved in an organized church, etc. and yet NOT be in “fellowship” with the Lord Jesus Christ; NOT be ‘in love’ with the Lord as the Lord brought out with His parable here, knowing what was in each of their hearts about Him.
As Jeremiah (God’s prophet) confessed: “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for YOU are the one I praise….What passes my lips is OPEN BEFORE YOU….keep me from shame….do not be a terror to me, but keep me from terror.” (Jeremiah 17:14-18)
“Blessed is the one who fully trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be a strong healthy tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It (he/she) does not fear anything. It (he/she) has no worries in times of hardship. It (he/she) NEVER FAILS TO BEAR FRUIT.” Jeremiah 17:8-9
As John the Baptist commanded the “religious” in his day, we “the religious” of our day, need to remember both the Lord’s teaching to Simon, and John’s message: Therefore, produce fruit worthy of repentance.” Luke 3:8
The sinful woman in Simon’s house loved the Lord more than Simon did because Simon didn’t see his own sinfulness as the woman saw her own sinfulness.
Humility is necessary in being forgiven and saved by the Lord. Simon’s sin was ‘worse’ than the woman’s. In thought, Simon expected the Lord to separate Himself from this sinful woman. Have you ever rejected a person that repulsed you? Have you ever looked at someone and criticized their behavior or how they looked? I have. Let’s be honest.
Hidden sin can be far worse than open sin. Jesus, who is the Holy Spirit, goes right to our hearts and is why we should constantly judge our ‘own’ hearts, and especially judge our own thoughts to guard our own words before they openly “pass our lips.”
With all that we are going through right now in our nation ‘politically,’ ‘socially,’ and ‘financially’ because of yet another plague, God is seriously purifying His own people. He’s working to unite us in Himself, showing us our responsibility as prayer warriors and as His humble servants doing His will only, in whatever way He calls us. God is also preparing us for far worse coming around the corner – that we be ready and prepared for Him. (Luke 1:17) If we are caught up in the disgust, frustration and anger ‘of our fear’ – we will miss the Lord’s open doors of opportunities and not understand what is ours to do in this time, or any time as His Day approaches.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8